All about my teaching

the Student teaching experience

Currently I am a student teacher at San Marcos High School in San Marcos, CA. I am working on getting my teaching credentials in Biology, Chemistry, and soon to be Math. I hope to be a full time teacher for high school science by Fall 2015. In the meantime, you can check out some of the projects I have worked on in the Credential program right here on this page. Scroll down to see what I have been busy working on.

Orange Glen High SChool

For my first semester of student teaching, I was able to spend my time at Orange Glen High School in Escondido, CA. Upon arriving at Orange Glen, I was so impressed with all the faculty. Everyone was so motivated to help students in any way possible, and all of the preliminary school meetings were so positive and uplifting about the progress that has been and would hopefully be made with students. And in behalf of students! The big topic was that they had received funding for dinner meals for students enrolled in after school programs. More food for students was a big deal at Orange Glen.

I was able to teach two periods of general Biology, and one period of special education Biology. Both of the outstanding teachers I worked with taught me so much during my time at Orange Glen. I was also able to frequently participate in the Environmental Club for the ABC after school program.

In general Biology, we did a lot of art based projects in order to stimulate student creativity. An example of one of these activities was when we create a word wall for the beginning of an Ecology unit. Students loved seeing their art displayed on the wall so much that they frequently asked after that "Are we going to put this assignment up on the wall?"I was also able to implement a part of my management plan by creating a Respect Agreement with students. In this activity as a class we discussed what respect means to us. Students wrote down their ideas, shared them with other students, and then as groups they shared them with the whole class. By doing so, students created and established guidelines for respectful behavior to the teacher, to classmates, to the school, as well as what respect behaviors they expect to see from the teacher. I wrote these on a large piece of paper that was displayed in the classroom the entire semester.

In Special Education Biology, I learned from my co-teacher﻿ how to establish routines and set up proper expectations﻿ in the beginning of the year. The first few days of class consisted of learning where to receive and turn in assignments, what consequences would occur for incomplete assignments, how to take notes, and how to display respect in class. This teacher established classroom management by creating relationships with her students. Her vibrant and expressive nature drew students into her world in the classroom, allowing them to feel like an important aspect of the class and it's management. She showed me her subtle strategies to show her students that she cares and that each of them are important. This established and defined a classroom culture that students were very receptive to. As the year drew on, I learned how to provide proper pacing for students and how to obtain immediate feedback about student understanding. The lessons I learned from being in this classroom were invaluable.

Near the end of the semester we were able to take a field trip to the Natural History Museum and the Ruben H. Fleet Science Museum in Balboa Park. Many students had never been to Balboa Park or a museum. They were thrilled and enjoyed every aspect of the field trip. It was an opportunity to really connect students and get to know them better.

San Marcos High School

So far nothing to report here! My first day starts January 12th. I'm excited to be on the new campus and learn a ton of new things!